School Trip

Friday.

Brianna and I were invited to join her former class on a school trip to Shubenacadie Wildlife Park, and to travel on Via Rail from Truro back to Halifax, where the school buses would pick us up. Her teacher asked me to keep it a secret, and boy oh boy was she excited, not to mention surprised when I spilled the beans the night before the trip. It is a very cool and educational excursion. I went with Colin's class when he was in grade two, couple years previous. We lucked out with the same guide, Tracy. Unlike my first trip, when I wore a sun dress and sandals, this year I was thankful for my layered clothing but still wishing for a hat and mittens. Few animals never came out to see us at all, and the black bears had just woken up barely a week earlier. The Canada geese had arrived to nest and the gander was overly aggressive, in full protection mode. That's Tracy trying to keep him off the path and away from the students. He wasn't afraid of her at all, hissing and snapping at her boot!

And what would my blog be without a picture of a sheep or two? In this case, it's Dall Sheep. Check out the amazing horns!

I will have to make a point to go there during summer vacation, with the whole family. I'll have to remember to arm myself with bug spray.

Knitting Withdrawals

This is something I found at No-Blog-Rachel's place.

What Barbara Means

You are full of energy. You are spirited and boisterous. You are bold and daring. You are willing to do some pretty outrageous things. Your high energy sometimes gets you in trouble. You can have a pretty bad temper at times. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Hi. I've been experiencing knitting withdrawals.

It's true I've knit at least 2.5 pairs of socks while we were in the motel, but I haven't knit a single stitch since we've moved into the house. Creepy. And just for the record, crochet does not count. I did work on Colin's blanket (it's one big granny square made of Briggs and Little Atlantic), but I discovered that I don't have enough of the right colours to make it big enough for his bed. In light of that little fact, (I mean, really: me not having enough of a particular yarn in my stash?) and not really wanting to go on a shopping spree, I will stop working on it when I run out of yarn and call it a day. It will still be quite large and warm and cuddly... it is wool we're talking about here, after all. I know he will be happy. And even happier because it will be all his, made especially for him. Eventually, I might buy more of that yarn and add another granny square to it, but not for a while. I have a need for knitting.

I need to knit. Something big. Something complex. Something involving charts and big brag potential. Something that will come from my stash that will keep me away from yarn stores for the next while (notice I am not specifying long or short while?? Clever, eh?) Majority of my pattern books and magazines are unpacked, so I should be able to come up with something soon.

In the mean time here are some photos I took while wasting time/trying to make time pass faster when we were homeless.

Actually, this picture is one that my hubby took in the motel. Yeah, that's me, coffee in hand, surrounded by cats. See that? Keeping that duvet out of storage was the most brilliant idea I had of the whole experience. It kept me believing that one day, soon, I would once again be able to put it on my own bed. It was quite the experience: a two-room motel suite with three adults, 2 kids, 4 cats, a dog, and many plants. Thank goodness it's over.

Bridgetown, NS

Driving over North Mountain to the ocean, only 10 minutes from Middleton.

Port George, NS

We've Arrived

Our furniture is out of storage, majority of the boxes are unpacked, and yesterday we received a delivery of new living room furniture. We've even met some of our neighbours. I think I will like it here. There are all sorts of things to like about our new home and location. It doesn't feel quite like home yet, though. I can't seem to put my finger on the reason for why not. I am content, for the most part. I don't feel stressed out about the whole unpacking and organizing business. I just don't know what it is, the not-quite-right thing.

I miss the farm, I think. The animals... At this time of year, I was starting to get the garden ready and ordering chicks and rejoicing over the new-born lambs. Making butter from milk I got from my cow. Nothing like that now. Just the "fragrant" scent of "natural" fertilizer on the wind from near-by farms... Yes, maybe that's it. I miss my farm.

Help Me

Today marks one week in the motel. There are times that I feel like I can't breathe. That the walls are closing in on me. That I want hubby and kids to simply disappear and leave me blissfully alone. What a time to learn how much I love, and need, my private space.

The good news is that the kids started at their new school yesterday. I think they will like it. The school is relatively new, approximately 20 years old, and much bigger than their previous one. There are 545 students at this school compared to only 176 or so at their old one. The halls are wide and airy, the classrooms are spacious, and the playgrounds actually have equipment. After only one day the kids reported making friends. And came home (to the motel, that is) with LOTS of homework.

Colin's teacher is very strict and I think I love her already. She believes in educating the students. I know he will learn on her watch! He is woefully behind in language arts especially and it just reinforces my belief that their previous school was not providing my kids with top-notch education.

I haven't met Brianna's teacher yet, but I am looking forward to it.

We're in Bridgewater today for hubby's doctor appointment. She graciously agreed to let us keep her as family doctor since there is such a huge shortage of doctors in all parts of the province. I didn't want to give up a doctor if I didn't have to.